Luke, 2nd quarter

[The sections of this entry correspond to the chapters in the King James Bible as follows: 5 = 6; 6 = 7; 7 = 8; 8 = 10; 9 = 11.]

5

Now Jesus came out and stood before vast multitudes of people in the rolling plains. And he spoke to these masses, saying:

“Fortunate are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Fortunate are the hungry, for you shall be fed. Fortunate whoever weeps now, for you shall soon laugh.

“Fortunate are you when anyone shuns and reproaches you, or casts you out as evil, because you embrace the Volcano’s message of debt forgiveness. Rejoice when these things happen, for your reward will be great. Recall that this is just how creditors have treated us prophets, since ancient time.

“Woe unto you that are rich! for you have received your consolation.

“And I say to the rest of you: Love your enemies, do good to them who hate you; bless them who curse you, and pray for them who despitefully use you.

“To whoever strikes you, turn the other cheek; and if a man takes your coat, offer also your shirt.

“Give to whoever requests of you; and if anyone borrows your goods, don’t ask for them back.

“Treat others as you would have them treat you.

“Do not limit your love to whoever already loves you; do not limit your goodness to whoever does good to you; do not limit your lending to those who can repay. For, if you act like so, then what new harmony is achieved? Instead, love your enemies, act with compassion, and lend without expecting any return; then your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Volcano.

“Be merciful, as any rescuer is merciful.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. And forgive, so that you can be forgiven.

“Share freely, so that others might share with you likewise. For your generosity will be mirrored back unto you.

“A good tree does not produce corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Just so, a good man out of the treasure of his heart will perform good deeds, and a corrupt man will engage with and further corruption.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but then you ignore my teachings? I urge you to put my teachings into practice!

“Say that a man comes and hears my teachings, and then acts in accordance with my counsel: that man is like a house that is built on a sturdy foundation, which will stand firm in a violent storm. But anyone who, after hearing my message, fails to put it into practice, is like man who builds on quicksand: even in the finest weather, his house will sink.”

6

Now there were friends of John the Dipper among the multitudes, and they inquired of Jesus: “Are you the one whom John called his superior?”

And Jesus answered them, saying: “If there were a hierarchy, then John would be my own better, for there could be no greater prophet than John; but the Volcano does not rank his devotees. My cousin and I are fellow prophets. And Moses desired prophethood for you all — he said: ‘My wish is that God would put his spirit upon everyone, and make all people into prophets!’ [Numbers 11:29] The volcano of potential is our common superior.”

§

Now one of the deacons of the church invited Jesus to dine at his house. Jesus accepted the invitation.

Then, on the night of the dinner, Jesus showed up at the house with a magdalene for his companion. So, there at the front door, the deacon pulled Jesus aside, and said to him privily: “Lord, this woman is a sinner; I cannot allow her into my house.”

And Jesus said to the deacon: “Fine, then we will dine elsewhere.” And they left.

7

Jesus went to a public diner with the magdalene, whose name was Mary, and masses of admirers came to see him there. Among the multitudes were his mother and siblings, but the crowd was so thick that his kinfolk could not get close to Jesus. Someone near him noticed this, and said: “Sir, your mother and siblings are out yonder, desiring to see you.” And Jesus answered and said: “My mother and my siblings are all who hear the word of God and do it.”

8

Then, behold, a certain Christian approached Jesus and asked him: “Lord, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered: “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”

The Christian said: “You shall love Yahweh God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Then Jesus said: “You have answered right. Do that, and you shall live.”

Yet the Christian said: “But since I must love my neighbor, tell me exactly: Who is my neighbor?”

And Jesus answered with a story, saying: “A certain man went down into the Big City. There, some thieves attacked him: they stripped all his clothes and wounded him; then departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a Priest and a Pastor came along, and seeing the injured man, they both passed by on the other side of the road. Next a Rabbi came and saw him, and crossed to the far side as well. But a certain Muslim, as he journeyed, came where the man was, and when he saw that this man was naked and injured, the Muslim had compassion, and went and clothed the man, and bandaged his wounds; then he brought him to a hospital, and paid in full for the man to be healed. – Now, which of these people, in your opinion, was a neighbor unto the man who fell among thieves?”

The Christian answered: “The one who showed mercy to him.”

Then Jesus said: “Go, and do likewise.”

9

Now a certain woman, on hearing the above conversation, said to Jesus: “Happy is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you.”

But he said: “Rather, happy are they that hear the word of God and do it.”

§

Then a certain creditor who was also a Christian invited Jesus to come to his church on Sunday. So he went; but then, in the middle of the service, Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice: “You wealthy Christians are careful to look nice on your exterior, but your interior is full of ravening and wickedness. Fools, do you not know that the one who made your outside also made your inside? Instead of expending so much energy on your appearance, rather give away your money and possessions to those who are needy: then you will appear beautiful to God. But woe unto you, comfortable Christians! for you tithe from your bank accounts, but then disregard divine compassion and love. Woe unto you, Christian creditors! for you love the nice pews in your churches, and high stature in the marketplace. Instead of spreading the simple message of debt forgiveness, you devise complicated doctrines that are like the fine print on legal contracts; this is why all of us prophets hate religion: by this means, you load men with burdens grievous to be borne, but you yourselves just buy your way out of all trouble. Woe unto you! for you build the tombs of us prophets, and you creditors always have killed us. You cause our death to eclipse our teaching. Woe unto you! you take away the key of knowledge: you enter not into bliss yourselves, and whoever would enter into bliss you hinder.”